There's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (PM)

Wow. Those people that went to the leprechaun parade really scored! I hear that the quality of St Paddy's day parades is really variable. An Irish guy who used to work with us, let's call him O'Doyle, emailed me yesterday to say that the parade he went to had the local scout group, some kids on horses and a couple of tractors. It's a rural area you see and I guess people just want to get it out of the way so they can get on with breaking the lenten fast.

Having said that, when I went to the Royal Balmoral Show in Belfast last year I saw some pretty incredible tractors. This one had wheels that were taller than me.

Powerful stuff. I also had a deep fried black pudding that was pretty incredible, but not something I think I will be able to do again.

I guess I don't really give much of a hoot about St Patrick's Day, but I'm glad that the Irish, those in the North and the South, get a public holiday. I mean, we have one for a horse race. I guess a guy who drove the snakes away is a good cause for celebration.

There's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (AM)

Apparently it was St Patrick's Day on Tuesday. I don't really understand why people make a big deal of it, but apparently it's kind of a thing. It certainly must be in USA because every American celebrity I follow on Instagram wished me a happy St Patrick's Day. And I follow a bunch of weird celebrities including Drew Barrymore and Cindy Crawford. Who the fuck knows why?

I know that modern day Australia was basically founded on the blood and sweat of Irishmen and my own dad is well into his Irish roots, yet St Patrick's Day seems about as relevant to me as Halloween. That is, not at all.

To see if there was anything interesting I could talk about in relation to St Patrick's Day I did what I always do in these situations: look at Wikipedia. Reading the Wikipedia page it became obvious to me that I've considered writing about this personally meaningless day before, but clearly the meaningless has always won out. But the story of Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland and using the shamrock to teach the people of the holy trinity all seemed familiar. This time reading through though I noticed this, "Christians also attend church services and the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol are lifted for the day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday's tradition of alcohol consumption." Of course it was interesting to learn that this is why so much beer is drunk on March 17th rather than because all Irish are alcoholics. Allegedly.

But I probably wouldn't be wasting your time and mine babbling about this day here if I hadn't scrolled down to the very bottom of the Wikipedia page and seen photos of celebrations around the world and in Ireland. And it was there in a photo of an Irish St Patrick's day parade that I saw photographic proof of leprechauns! I know I can barely believe it myself, but you can see for yourself below! Real leprechauns leading the parade.

So thanks world for celebrating St Patrick's Day, without you I never would have found this photo and learned that leprechauns are real and magic happens.

In praise of Sundays (PM)

My god,  J's post has totally made me go all misty for Sundays.  She makes them sound like the most awesome of days.
I guess I have to admit to myself and the MSC community that I am still a bit stuck in the mindset of younger J, wondering what the fuck The Bangles were on about calling Sunday a funday. I think I have  to admit that I have a habit of  always scanning the horizon for my next obligation, and on Sunday that shit goes into overdrive.
But I'm actually writing this during a very lovely Sunday afternoon, so I'm going to take a leaf out of J's book and enjoy it.
I've spent the morning at a cafe where the coffee is so fine it could take all cares away. I'm sitting at the kitchen table with the balcony door open, and a warm Irish breeze wafting through as I read about the triumph of the Dees over the Dons yesterday. A game of Hurling is on TV in the background (Cork vs. Clare, a 2013 grand final rematch. Go Cork!!)

Scores are level at 8 points all at the moment.

Shit, I just realised that one of the things that make Sundays pretty great is going to the MCG to see the game. What a joy it is. And maybe one of the reasons that Sunday makes me a little blue is that watching a game, when your colours are red and blue, means watching a loss.
Until this glorious year, of course.
But that's a conversation for another day.
When this game's over, I'm going to suggest to Appleheart that we have a Sundowner. He doesn't know it yet, but I'm going to suggest it. We're the only kids in this outfit, so drinking on a Sunday afternoon remains a delight.
Who am I kidding? Sunday is the best.

Miss Soft Crab Assorted: Irish selection (PM)

Ok first, of course I wish there was a soundtrack to Miss Soft Crab posts. (Business idea: release Miss Soft Crab soundtrack.) But, you know, I wish there was a soundtrack to pretty much everything in my life. Like maybe sometimes I could strut down the street while Aretha sings "Think", when I'm feeling sassy. Or other cool shit. I'd certainly have a more inspired soundtrack coordinator than I currently have. The other day I was in a cafe and Portishead's Dummy was playing as if it was 1997. Sure I loved it but, come on soundtrack guy.  And when it's not 90s classics I basically have a constant soundtrack of 774 ABC radio. Or RRR.

But that's by the by. 

Second shit, Mate, if I worried about all the potatoes I ate I would need some serious therapy. You know, if this was America and people got therapy at the drop of a hat. 

But Ireland, that place is great. It's been a long, long, long time since I was there but my memories are very fond. It is so green and beautiful and there are ruins everywhere which seem totally romantic and lovely. 

When I was 13 I lived in Ireland for a few months with my family. We lived just outside Galway in a tiny house behind a B&B. Russeth and I walked to school with my mum past blackberry bushes we'd snack on. Some of our teachers were nuns. We were also a short walk from the beach, a walk that took us past more blackberries and an adorable donkey. I know I don't seem like the kind of girl that had nuns and donkeys in my past but it's true, you guys. 

And the people! So friendly. For a long time I had a penpal from my school in Ireland. She had the most beautiful red hair. Eventually  we drifted apart,  it didn't help that she sent me a poem about abortion written from the viewpoint if the foetus. But the people are so friendly. 

And the chips and curry Mate, please don't miss them! Maybe it's the palate of a 13-year-old talking but I really think you should try it. You can just work out extra hard or get some therapy afterwards.